1921 Duluth & St Louis County MN, Van Brunt.pdf - Garon.us

DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 519
the first entry in the minute book of the trustees of the Village of
Eveleth, "at 9:00, a.
judges of election."
m., for the purpose of nominating a
Marvin Van Buskirk was ''appointed
board of
chairman
of committee on nominations" and Frank Kempffer, secretary. John
Salvo and Frank Kempffer were appointed judges, with Joseph Leach
and Annie Burnett acting as clerks. The voting then proceeded, and
the result was in due course announced by the judges, who found
Marvin Van Buskirk legally elected to the office of president. Ninety-one
votes were cast in his favor, his candidacy having been unopposed.
The trustees were Henry Hookwith, John Grey and W. H. Shea,
having received 60, 91, and 57 votes respectively, the unsuccessful
candidates being Alfred Riff and John Anderson, with 31 and 34
votes respectively. A. S. Erickson was elected recorder, having received
57 votes; S. S. Childers became treasurer, receiving 91 votes;
John F. Towell and Chas. Wyman were elected justices of the peace,
and Jerry Sullivan, constable, having received 90 votes.
First Council Meeting.—The first meeting of trustees was held
"in the back room of Stetton's store," on October 25, 1894. Present
at the meeting were: M. Van Buskirk, president; John Grey, Hy.
Hookwith, and W. H. Shea, trustees; A. S. Erickson, recorder.
Marvin Van Buskirk was "appointed a committee of one, to secure
room and furnishing, to be used as a council chamber," which
appointment supports the statement that the first meeting of the
village council was held "in the townsite company's frame building."
Possibly, the "back room of Stetton's store" was the "room and furnishing"
secured by President Van B"skirk, after that first meeting
in the townsite company's building. It is known that council meetings
in the first year "used to be held" in Stetton's store."
First Village Hall.—After a year or so of the use of a rented
room as council chamber, the village ofificials moved into a building
of their own. The first village hall was a two-story frame structure,
erected at a cost of $656.69, in 1895. It was built upon lot No. 36,
in block 12, of the "old town," the village paying the townsite company
$200 for the lot. Eventually, the hall was moved to the new
town, and now stands on Grant Avenue, "next to Max Stipetich's
saloon." Latterly, it has served as a cinema.
First Marshal.— Jerry Sullivan was appointed marshal on November
1, 1894, at $30.00 a m'onth, having secured the office by competitive
sealed bid. The marshal's hours of duty were from 9:00 p. m. to 7 :00
a. m. In 1896, the salary of the marshal was $75.00 a month.
First Fire Company.—A volunteer fire company was formed in
June, 1895. It consisted of fifteen members, the compensation to
firemen being fixed at one dollar for each call, with an additional
fifty cents for each hour after the first. One of the first measures instituted
for the purpose of fire protection was the employment, in January,
1895, of "a force of men to cut, pile and burn, for a distance of
250 feet back from the borders of the village."
First Board of Health.—A board of health was organized on
February 4, 1895. Members of the board were Dr. II. L. Darms, John
Grey, and ]'>. J.
McCormick. Dr. Darms was also one of the village
trustees in its first vear, taking the place of W. II. Shea, who "moved
away" early in 1S''5.
First Hotel.— The first hotel was jirobably that l)uilt in 1893 by
Archie McComb. F.ut it was "not of much account." In May, 1895,
owners of lots on Jones Street petitioned the trustees of the village
"to condemn, as a street, the east 120 feet of Jones Street, between